A/N: So, I'm seriously interfering with the timeline here to make it work for the story. Sorry ahaha! In reality, Winters back-tracked down to the Autobahn to try to outflank the roadblock the Germans had created with the blown bridge and get to Berchtesgaden another way. That actually took a few days, as they were stopped by another blown bridge for the night. So I'm just going to say that it actually took a day for the Germans to get up to Berchtesgaden (for some reason) even though it would actually have taken only an hour or two. I don't know, maybe one of the carts lost a wheel. Yeah, that's it. And Winters left with the battalion after speaking with Emilie.
But that's just a minor thing. The other, bigger one is the fact that the German officer actually gave his speech to his soldiers in Zell Am See, Austria, not in Berchtesgaden, but I'm saying the opposite just to make it fit. I might also rearrange some events, but just bear with me, my dears. I try to stick as close to what actually happened as possible, but sometimes I just can't. c:
Enjoy. :D
xx
Berchtesgaden was like something out of a fairy-tale. She had seen beauty before in Europe, but this rivalled any landscape she had ever set her eyes on. Snow-capped mountains, dark green woods, tinkling, icy creeks, gingerbread houses, the colourful dress of the natives. It really was stunning. But the fact that this was the place all the most decorated Nazis had come to be close to Hitler cast a dark shadow over the land. The Nazis had been put in the finest accommodations money could buy, with all the new electricity. It made her sick just thinking about it, but to actually see it with her own eyes…
In the distance, Emilie could see the 8,000ft high Aldershorst, or the Eagle's Nest as it was known outside of Europe. It was perched atop a mountain like an ominous demon passing judgement on all he saw; she had heard stories and seen pictures of the gold-leaf elevator which ran up to the stone retreat. All the leaders of Europe had gone to the Aldershorst to be humiliated by Hitler in the late '30's: Daladier of France, Mussolini of Italy, Schuschnigg of Austria, Chamberlain of Great Britain. The list went on.
Eberhardt would have had a field day here.
The first thing her CO did when they arrived was find the nearest American of a suitable rank to formally surrender to; a lieutenant was the best he could seek out at such short notice. Emilie accompanied him and translated all he said. He seemed to hate having to rely on her assistance, but she revelled in it. The lieutenant called over a few American soldiers to escort the Germans to the POW camp that had been set up at the rear. They looked at her curiously, but asked no questions.
As the Germans were lead away like cattle, American soldiers ran up and weaved through their ranks, looting them of watches, lugers and other guns, knives and fur-lined coats. Most of the Germans took it all in pretty good spirit, as most were too tired to even argue, but every once in a while one wouldn't want to be relieved of the extra weight. A pistol flashed in their face by an American quickly changed their mind.
Emilie watched, disgusted. Yes, it was a kind of tradition for the conquering army to loot going back to Caesar's time. But that didn't make it any better. Who were these boys to take what was rightfully theirs from them? When a Yank soldier came over to Emilie and looked expectantly at her, she rolled her eyes. "I'm a medic," she snapped, "If you want some bandages and morphine, be my guest, but you aren't going to get a whole lot else off me."
He looked mildly surprised that she spoke English, but said nothing of it. She thought that he was going to leave, but then his gaze found the silver necklace just peeking out of her chest pocket. At first she thought he was staring at her breasts, but then remembered. Silver was pretty precious with all the rationing.
"Hand it over, sweetheart," the soldier ordered, holding out his hand.
Emilie held her ground. "Like Hell."
"Don't make me ask you again."
She was prepared to get into a fist fight with the guy when another soldier, this time a British one, from behind the American stopped what he was doing and called, "Hey, mate, leave the Fraulein alone."
He groaned like a child being told they can't have the toy they want, looking over his shoulder. "But she's got a great piece of silver, ya Limey. Silver! Do you hear me? Silver!"
The Brit walked over and stepped between Emilie and the American, who sputtered out that he had no right. "Love, I'm sorry about this Yank, yeah? Blimey, they are a handful and a half." The American, by this point, was seething, but, before he did anything stupid, he turned and stormed back to his buddies, who were sorting through their prizes like trick-or-treaters examining their candy booty.
Emilie nodded in thanks to the British soldier, who smiled before walking away.
She walked beside Kuhn and Ehrlichmann in silence for the remainder of the trip. All around her, despite the fact they had been stripped of their weapons and accessories, the Germans marched with their heads held high, just as her CO had instructed. As they passed the young Americans, who looked dirty, ill-disciplined, and small in numbers, Emilie could tell what her comrades were thinking even if they never voiced their opinions: how the Hell did we lose to these guys?
